The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

accession of good fortune without being guilty of
any transgression, I, at last, remembered that Brahmana
and bowed to him, and having obtained that mantras
from excess of curiosity and from folly, I summoned,
during my maidenhood, the god Surya. He, therefore,
who was held in my womb during my maidenhood,—­why
should he not obey my words that are certainly acceptable
and beneficial to his brothers? And reflecting
in this strain, Kunti formed an excellent resolution.
And having formed that resolution, she went to the
sacred stream called after Bhagiratha. And having
reached the banks of Ganga, Pritha heard the chanting
of the Vedic hymns by her son, endued with great kindness
and firmly devoted to truth. And as Karna stood
with face directed to the east and arms upraised,
then helpless Kunti, for the sake of her interest
stayed behind him, waiting the completion of prayers.
And the lady of Vrishni’s race, that wife of
Kuru’s house, afflicted by the heat of the sun
began to look like a faded garland of lotuses.
And, at last, she stood in the shade afforded by the
upper garments of Karna. And Karna, of regulated
vows, said his prayers until his back became heated
by the rays of the sun. Then turning behind, he
behold Kunti and was filled with surprise. And
saluting him in proper form and with joined palms
that foremost of virtuous persons, endued with great
energy and pride, viz., Vrisha, the son of Vikartana,
bowed to her and said (the following words)."’

SECTION CXLV

“Karna said, ’I am Karna, son of Radha
and Adhiratha. For what, O lady, hast thou come
here? Tell me what I am to do for thee?’

“Kunti said, ’Thou art Kunti’s son,
and not Radha’s. Nor is Adhiratha thy father.
Thou, O Karna, art not born in the Suta order.
Believe what I say. Thou wert brought forth by
me while a maiden. I held thee first in my womb.
O son, thou wert born in the palace of Kuntiraja.
O Karna, that divine Surya who blazeth forth in light
and maketh everything visible, O foremost of all wielders
of weapons, begat thee upon me. O irresistible
one, thou, O son, wert brought forth by me in my father’s
abode, decked with (natural) ear-rings and accoutred
in a (natural) coat of mail, and blazing forth in
beauty. That thou, without knowing thy brothers,
shouldst, therefore, from ignorance, wait upon Dhritarashtra’s
son, is not proper. It is improper in thee especially,
O son. The gratification of one’s father
and one’s mother, who is the sole displayer of
affection (for her child), hath, O son, in the matter
of ascertaining the duties of men, been declared to
be the highest of all duties. Acquired formerly
by Arjuna, the prosperity of Yudhishthira hath, from
avarice, been wrested by wicked persons. Snatching
it back from Dhritarashtra’s sons, do thou enjoy
that prosperity. Let the Kurus behold today the
union of Karna and Arjuna. Beholding thee and
thy brother united together in bonds of brotherly